Building the Heart of our Campus

The Building our Future Series: Part Two of Six

Investing in Community, Education, and the Future of Saint Michael

By Meredith Turner, Director of Communications

When Saint Michael began discerning the future of our campus, one guiding conviction quickly emerged: whatever the church builds next must prioritize community. Saint Michael knew it wanted to rebuild the heart of its campus and make the entire facility smarter, more functional, and more welcoming.

A STRATEGIC FIRST STEP

Because the full master plan is a significant undertaking, the work was intentionally divided into phases. Phase One represented roughly 20% of the overall project and focused on the Education Building on the west side of our property. This building serves two vital purposes. It’s the home of Saint Michael Episcopal School (SMES) and supports Sunday classes and other educational gatherings throughout the week.

When Saint Michael’s Rector, Chris Girata, arrived in 2016, the school had roughly half the number of students it does today. The ages served have remained the same, but enrollment has grown dramatically. That growth is a blessing—but it also meant the church needed more space, better space, and a learning environment that truly reflected the excellence already present in the school’s curriculum and community.

Beginning in December 2023, the building underwent a complete transformation. Much of the interior was gutted—hallways were reconfigured, walls were moved, and asbestos was safely removed. Perhaps most importantly, we invested heavily in the infrastructure—the systems that make a building truly work. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems were all replaced. In many ways, the building received an entirely new life.

By the fall of 2024, construction of the Education Building was complete. When school opened in September, students and teachers stepped into a renewed space designed to support their learning and formation. Just a few weeks later, the second floor opened for Sunday school classes and other church gatherings.

It was an investment in education overall—but especially in the ministry of SMES.

A DOORWAY INTO THE CHURCH

Today, SMES is one of the most meaningful entry points into the life of the church.

Life has changed in many ways over the past generation. People’s schedules are fuller, priorities are shifting, and many families no longer begin their spiritual journey by walking into a church. But when children enter the picture, parents often begin asking deeper questions: What kind of character do we want to cultivate in our children? What values will shape their lives?

SMES offers families a beautiful starting point. And with the church right beside it, the spiritual formation children receive during the week naturally connects with the life of faith experienced on Sundays.

The church is already seeing the fruit of this investment. In the past year alone, participation in the children’s Sunday morning experience has increased by nearly 50%. Young families are discovering Saint Michael in new ways, and they are finding a welcoming community.

CREATING A “THIRD SPACE”

This building project reflects another conviction that has shaped Chris’s thinking for many years. While Chris was in seminary, he encountered a book called The Gospel According to Starbucks. The title may sound unusual, but the idea behind it is deeply meaningful. The author explored the concept of a “third space.”

Most of us anchor our lives in two primary places: home and work. But we also need a third environment—a place where community naturally forms. A space where relationships deepen, conversations happen, and shared values are reinforced.

When he arrived at Saint Michael, Chris realized that the campus was designed beautifully for worship and learning. Nearly every interior space was dedicated either to prayer or to classrooms. Those are essential parts of Saint Michael’s identity—but something was missing—the church lacked spaces simply for gathering. If Saint Michael wanted to host a reception or a celebration after worship, it often had to move outside. And when larger groups wanted to gather indoors, it was a struggle to find a room that worked.

As leaders imagined the future of the campus, it became clear that community space needed to be at the center. The redesigned middle of the campus reflects that vision. A new Parish Hall will provide space for shared meals, guest speakers, concerts, and celebrations. A Café will offer a place where people can meet a friend for coffee, study, or simply spend time together. These spaces may not always feel “churchy”—and that’s exactly the point. They allow the church to become part of everyday life, a place where relationships grow naturally and where faith becomes woven into the rhythms of community.

DESIGNING FOR CONNECTION

One final insight shaped the campus redesign. When Chris first arrived, he discovered that the campus had more than 14 different entry points. If you knew exactly where you were going, you could park nearby, slip in through a convenient door, attend your meeting or class, and leave without ever encountering anyone else. It was efficient—but it wasn’t relational. In fact, two close friends could be on campus at the same time and never know the other was there.

Therefore, the new design intentionally encourages connection. While there will still be multiple ways to enter the property, the majority of people—perhaps 85%—will pass through a shared central entrance. Chris likes to call this a “collision space.” It’s a place where paths naturally cross. Where people see one another on the way in and out. Where conversations happen unexpectedly and friendships grow stronger. And that matters more than we sometimes realize. Relationships make the spiritual journey “stickier.” When we know one another, support one another, and share life together, discipleship becomes something that truly shapes us over time.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Every brick placed and every room designed communicates a simple but powerful belief: the future God is calling Saint Michael toward is bright. By investing in education, welcoming spaces, and deeper community, we are building more than structures. We are building the relationships that help us become the people God created us to be—and equipping our parish to share that love with the world for generations to come.

This is the fifth article in a six-part series. The first, second, third, and fourth articles were published in the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2025, and Spring 2026 issues of The Archangel, respectively.

**This article was written by Meredith Turner and was featured in the 2026 Summer Archangel.